Whitebread

iTrader: (2)

I just bought a new Fidanza flywheel for my 2003 and, there is a bit of rust on the friction surface. I was planning on sanding it with progressively higher grit sandpaper, starting around 180 and going to maybe 500 or 600. Then, I'd clean it off with a bit of break cleaner.

Is this appropriate?

buddywh1

If the rust is bad enough to need progressive sanding I'd be worried about pitting to deep even for that.

Would you say it's the same kind of surface rust that a car parked a couple weeks in an airport car park could experience, and that you'd see on the disk rotors for instance?

Couldn't you just hit it with a scotchbrite pad and some alcohol?

SteveB123

iTrader: (2)

The friction disk should take of it.

PulsarGTS

iTrader: (6)

Thats what I was thinking.

Whitebread

iTrader: (2)

I suppose it is similar. The amount of rust is significantly less, though. Scratching it with my fingernail visibly reduces it.

I was also worried about cleanliness of the friction surfaces both on the flywheel and the pressure plate. I suppose I will just clean them with some alcohol and let the clutch disc take care of what bit of rust is left.

Whitebread

iTrader: (2)

Also, those of you who have done clutch jobs, did you replace your flywheel and pressure plate bolts? I'm not confident about using the old ones.

buddywh1

I've never done a clutch job, but I don't think that matters since I have done a lot of other work. There are a very few absolutes when it comes to evaluating fastener systems:

Use the right wrench for the job.
Make sure threads are clean.
Use a good torque wrench.
When you don't have confidence in a fastener replace it first. Ask questions later.
Always use the same grade fastener it's replacing.

Matt93SE

iTrader: (44)

reuse the flywheel bolts. the only time they fail is when idiots put them on with impact wrenches and pound on them. the flywheel bolts are probably the strongest bolts on the entire car- moreso than even the head bolts.

As for the rust, it's nothing to worry about. take a can of brake cleaner and maybe a scotch pad and scrub the steel surface clean AFTER you install the flywheel in the car.
until then, leave it alone because every fingerprint you put on it will cause it to rust more.
give the surface a light scrub with the scotch pad and hose everything down with brake cleaner to remove the residue. then install the clutch per the FSM instructions.

done.


it's no big deal.. just follow instructions in the manual and you're golden.

Whitebread

iTrader: (2)

Thanks guys.